ITV Sunday Preview From Punchestown, Cork And Kelso

The first race of the day on ITV comes from Ireland with the Listed Mares' Novice Hurdle at Punchestown over 2m4f and there only looks to be one winner in this.

The Willie Mullins trained Finest Evermore could be a very special horse for the yard having raced four times, winning three of those events.

Having been a smart bumper horse finishing second on debut and then winning at the second time of asking, Mullins sent her over hurdles for the first time in August.

She was sent to Tipperary in a maiden over 2m4f and went on to be a convincing winner by 23 lengths. She then backed that up last time out at Listowel in a similar race winning again by 13 lengths.

She is unbeaten over hurdles during her career and if running to form looks the one to beat in this event.

The only race from Cork on Sunday for ITV is the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase and it sees the return of the Champion Chase favourite Chacun Pour Soi.

The eight year old has only had four starts for the handler since joining from France back in December 2016 but has shown plenty of ability on all of his runs just losing his unbeaten record last season.

Having not raced since March 2016 he went to Naas for his first run in nearly exactly three years in a Beginners Chase and showed a perfect temperament to take the spoils by 31 lengths.

He was then sent to the Punchestown festival with many punters still unaware of the ability of this horse and he gave one of the stand out performances of the meeting, beating the Arkle Novices Chase winner Duc Des Genievres and JLT Novices Chase victor Defi Du Seuil to land the Grade One Ryanair Novices Chase.

He made his seasonal debut last season over Christmas at Leopardstown in a Grade One Chase against some superb horses and although looking like he had the race wrapped up he found nothing when coming off the bridle and was pipped close home.

He came on a huge amount for that run and got back to winning ways in the Grade One Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, beating stablemate Min.

He is a very talented horse and although fragile looks the one to beat in this race.

The final race from Punchestown sees the race of the day with the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase over 2m4f and Allaho is our selection.

The Cheveley Park Stud owned six year old looks set to have a huge season and if wanting to be at the top of this division will have to go close in this.

The gelding has had an illustrious career, being a smart hurdler two seasons ago when winning a Grade Three at Clonmel before finishing a good third behind Minella Indo in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

He was sent chasing last term by his handler and again impressed finishing second on debut behind stablemate Easy Game and then going to win a Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse with ease.

This set him up for the RSA Novices' Chase at the festival and although running a cracker, again had to settle for a close third behind Champ and Minella Indo.

The form of that race looks to be working out so far with Henry De Bromhead's runner landing back to back chase contests and now dropping back in trip this born to be chaser could start his season off with a bang.

The last two races on the card at Kelso feature on ITV and the first of them is the three mile Novices' Chase and the favourite Mahlervous looks the pick on form.

The seven year old for Warren Greatrex has been seen twice this term, blowing the cobwebs away on debut at Uttoxeter but since going on to place in value company.

Last time out the gelding finished a good second behind Severano for Oliver Sherwood and he has franked that form on Friday when winning a handicap by 18 lengths.

Greatrex had not had a winner for sometime but landed a 12/1 winner on Friday and that should give the yard some confidence.

The final race in Scotland is the Class 3 Handicap over four miles and in this staying event we believe we have found the horse that will definitely stay the trip.

The Rose Dobbin trained Bigirononhisship is a nine year old that revels in these staying events and has proven he can handle a race like this when taking this exact contest last season.

The gelding made his seasonal return at Ayr over three miles and it was a nice event to prep him up for this event again, finishing second behind a smart horse.

Although 10lb higher than he was last year he looks to have a huge chance and should be bang on after his run at Ayr.